元器件交易网讯  4月3日消息，据外媒报道，苹果正寻求移动供应链，该公司已经公开讨论为其iPhone屏幕购买日本合资企业瑞力科技的控股权。

　　这是一个罕见的收购，这主要是由于智能手机行业的竞争加剧。

　　日前，有传闻称苹果计划收购瑞萨电子旗下芯片部门55%的股权。

　　无可争辩，苹果过去几年对全球移动供应链的掌控力在减小，三星电子和使用谷歌Android操作系统的智能手机制造商开始主导市场。这将使得瑞萨电子芯片部门在未来将更有价值。

　　知情人士周三表示，瑞萨是亏损的日本芯片制造商，瑞萨电子在过去八年已经累计亏损6500亿银元（合62.8亿美元）。

　　该公司正在重组，将专注于其核心自动业务。据悉，该公司也在与其他公司商谈出售芯片部门瑞力科技55%的股份。

　　该消息人士没有说出其它公司的名字，也没有表明当前进展。

　　麦格理分析师Damian Thong称，苹果“肯定不会高兴其它公司也想收购它。”

　　“苹果通常会为其开发的产品购买关键技术部分或软件，如果他们感到重要。这不是什么新鲜事儿，但是不寻常的是他们会与日本公司做交易。”

　　一位日本显示屏行业人士称，“苹果购买瑞力科技是一件意义重大的事情。”

　　瑞萨周三表示，正在考虑出售其瑞力科技，但拒绝进一步置评。

　　（元器件交易网董蕾 译）

　　外媒原文如下：

　　Apple Inc, seeking to secure its mobile supply chain, has opened discussions to buy control of a Japanese venture that makes key microchips for its iPhone screens, sources familiar with the matter say.

　　The talks on what would be a rare acquisition in Japan for the U.S. technology giant come as competition heats up in the smartphone industry, with pressure to produce larger, sharper and less battery-draining screens.

　　Apple's once undisputed command of the global mobile electronics supply chain has diminished in past years as Samsung Electronics Co and other manufacturers that make smartphones powered by Google Inc's Android began to dominate the market.

　　That makes the advanced chips made by the Renesas Electronics Corp division all the more valuable in future.

　　Renesas, a loss-making Japanese chipmaker that is restructuring to focus on its core auto business, is also in talks with other companies on selling its 55 percent stake in the chip division, known as Renesas SP Driver, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

　　The people did not name the other companies, nor indicate the current status of the talks.

　　Desire for control over a venture that makes all the display control chips for the iPhone as Apple battles rival products from the likes of Samsung makes a compelling case for Apple to seek a deal, industry officials and analysts said.

　　Apple "certainly might not be happy that someone else might want it (the venture)," said Damian Thong, analyst at Macquarie.

　　"Apple routinely buys in key technology components and software which they feel are important for the development of their products. It's not new. What is unusual is that they're doing it in the context of a Japanese firm."

　　Renesas said on Wednesday it was considering selling the Renesas SP Driver unit, but declined to comment further.

　　Apple did not respond to an email seeking comment.

　　'GRAVE SIGNIFICANCE'

　　The Nikkei business daily, which was first to report on the talks, said Apple could buy the Renesas stake for 50 billion yen ($483 million) by summer. It added that Sharp Corp could also sell its 25 percent stake if requested to do so by Apple. Taiwan's Powerchip owns the remaining stake.

　　Shares of Renesas surged after the report by as much as 19 percent to 934 yen, their highest in more than three years. They pared those gains to end up 6 percent at 831 yen, compared with a 1 percent rise in the benchmark Nikkei average.

　　A deal by Apple would be a rare foray into a Japanese technology industry that has suffered from aggressive competition by ambitious rivals like Samsung in the last decade.

　　Renesas, formed from struggling chip units at conglomerates Hitachi Ltd, Mitsubishi Electric Corp and NEC Corp, has racked up nearly 650 billion yen ($6.28 billion) in net losses over the last eight years.

　　Sharp has also posted heavy losses in recent years.

　　Renesas SP Driver, the largest maker of chips used to control mobile device screens, supplies all three of the companies that make displays for the iPhone, industry sources say: Sharp, Japan Display Inc and South Korea's LG Display Co Ltd.

　　"There's no doubt that, for Apple, the question of who buys Renesas SP is a matter of grave significance," said one Japanese display industry source, who asked not to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter.

　　Control over the supply chain has become increasingly crucial among smartphone makers. While up to now Apple has relied on outside suppliers for many key parts, Samsung makes vital parts for its Galaxy smartphones, from screens to chips to capacitors, in-house. That gives it greater control over costs, production schedules and specifications, as well as product information.

　　The business at the center of the talks has its admirers, industry watchers say,

　　"Renesas SP Driver is strong in technology for LCD (panel drivers," said one industry analyst, who declined to be named. "Other driver makers can't catch up to its technology," he said, emphasizing its strength in high resolution and power-saving features.